Elizabeth Prout
Encyclopedia
Servant of God
Sister Elizabeth Prout, known as Mother Mary Joseph of Jesus, (September 2, 1820 - January 11, 1864). Founder of the Roman Catholic religious order
the ‘Institute of the Holy Family’, later known as the Passionists - the Sisters of the Cross and Passion.
, Shrewsbury
on September 2, 1820. Little is known of her early life, save that she was born to an Anglican mother and a father who was a lapsed Catholic (both of whom later converted to Catholicism) and in her early twenties converted to Catholicism under the influence of the Passionist
missionary to England, Blessed Dominic Barberi
, as well as another Passionist, Father Gaudentius Rossi. Her conversion was met with great negativity by her parents who had earlier relocated the family to Stone, where the Passionists were working at the time. Elizabeth began to feel a strong attraction to the religious life and Father Gaudentius advised her to join the Sisters of the Infant Jesus in Northampton
. In 1848 Elizabeth joined this community where she initially found great happiness, her health however was poor and the sisters did not think her strong enough for their work. After spending some time with her parents, Elizabeth again appealed to Father Gaudentius for advice. At that time the Passionist was giving a parish mission at St. Chad's Church in Cheetham Hill
, Manchester
and it was there that Father Gaudentius advised Elizabeth to make her home, teaching in the parish school.
at the hands of Father Croskell, parish priest of St. Chad's, on the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lady
, November 21, 1852. A plaque in the Lady Chapel
of St. Chad's records this event. At her clothing Elizabeth Prout received her new religious name, by which she would ever be known hereafter, Mother Mary Joseph of Jesus.
The next two years saw the sisters working unceasingly, to such an extent that their health was neglected and many of the sisters fell ill, being too poor to afford the services of a doctor; Mother Mary Joseph was called upon to nurse the sisters herself. Encouragement was ever present however, in the form of many benefactors and friends, not least amongst them Father Ignatius Spencer
, son of Earl Spencer
and convert to the Catholic faith. He too had become a Passionist and joined Father Dominic in his work in England. When Father Gaudentius was transferred to the United States
by his superiors Father Ignatius took the place of the spiritual guide of Mother Mary Joseph and her Institute. By this time a larger home had been found for the community in Levenshulme
on the outskirts of Manchester.
Conflicts within the community had taken their toll on Mother Mary Joseph's work, particularly the finances of the Institute. She obtained permission from the bishop to go to Ireland to beg for alms for her Institute and there met with Father Ignatius. On her return from Ireland mother Mary Joseph found the situation even worse than when she had left. People were accusing the sisters of irregularity and so an ecclesiastical investigation began. The result of the investigation was extremely positive and revealed the deep poverty of the sisters and the sacrifices they had made in their hard work.
. Father Ignatius took the Rule to Rome for the Pope's approval, which he received. The Institute was thus formally erected as a religious congregation of the Catholic Church. On October 23, 1863 Mother Mary Joseph was elected mother General, but her health was failing and her was near total physical collapse. Mother Mary Joseph died on January 11, 1864, physically broken by her labours, but with the future of the congregation secure. She was dressed in her habit and buried at the Passionist Church of St. Anne's, in Sutton, St. Helens
near Liverpool
, where Dominic Barberi
and Ignatius Spencer
were also buried. Ten years after her death the sisters were given permission to wear the sign of the Passionists on their habit and their name was changed to the 'Sisters of the Cross and Passion' thus completing the work of Mother Mary Joseph and Father Ignatius.
of allegedly miraculous cures, which would be needed to be proved in addition to her heroic status, are being investigated for future beatification and canonization. They involve a person with cancer and a person with severe brain damage due to a skull fracture.
Servant of God
Servant of God is a title given to individuals by various religions, but in general the phrase is used to describe a person believed to be pious in his or her faith tradition. In the Catholic Church, it designates someone who is being investigated by the Church for possibly being recognized as a...
Sister Elizabeth Prout, known as Mother Mary Joseph of Jesus, (September 2, 1820 - January 11, 1864). Founder of the Roman Catholic religious order
Roman Catholic religious order
Catholic religious orders are, historically, a category of Catholic religious institutes.Subcategories are canons regular ; monastics ; mendicants Catholic religious orders are, historically, a category of Catholic religious institutes.Subcategories are canons regular (canons and canonesses regular...
the ‘Institute of the Holy Family’, later known as the Passionists - the Sisters of the Cross and Passion.
Early life
Elizabeth Prout was born in ColehamColeham
Coleham is a district of the town of Shrewsbury in Shropshire, England. It is located just south, over the River Severn, from Shrewsbury town centre....
, Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England. Lying on the River Severn, it is a civil parish home to some 70,000 inhabitants, and is the primary settlement and headquarters of Shropshire Council...
on September 2, 1820. Little is known of her early life, save that she was born to an Anglican mother and a father who was a lapsed Catholic (both of whom later converted to Catholicism) and in her early twenties converted to Catholicism under the influence of the Passionist
Passionist
The Passionists are a Roman Catholic religious order founded by Saint Paul of the Cross . Professed members use the initials C.P. after their names.-History:St...
missionary to England, Blessed Dominic Barberi
Dominic Barberi
Blessed Dominic of the Mother of God, born Dominic Barberi was an Italian theologian and a member of the Passionist Congregation...
, as well as another Passionist, Father Gaudentius Rossi. Her conversion was met with great negativity by her parents who had earlier relocated the family to Stone, where the Passionists were working at the time. Elizabeth began to feel a strong attraction to the religious life and Father Gaudentius advised her to join the Sisters of the Infant Jesus in Northampton
Northampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
. In 1848 Elizabeth joined this community where she initially found great happiness, her health however was poor and the sisters did not think her strong enough for their work. After spending some time with her parents, Elizabeth again appealed to Father Gaudentius for advice. At that time the Passionist was giving a parish mission at St. Chad's Church in Cheetham Hill
Cheetham Hill
Cheetham Hill is an inner city area of Manchester, England. As an electoral ward it is known as Cheetham and has a population of 12,846. It lies on the west bank of the River Irk, north-northeast of Manchester city centre and close to the boundary with the City of Salford...
, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
and it was there that Father Gaudentius advised Elizabeth to make her home, teaching in the parish school.
Work in Manchester
On arriving in Manchester, Elizabeth was met with the squalid conditions that the people lived in. She soon established herself in the parish by visiting the sick and poor. She was soon joined in her work by those who felt inspired by her way of life. Elizabeth felt that she wanted to establish a more regular life for her and her companions and thought first of joining an existing religious order, but then, with the advice of Father Gaudentius, believed she was called to found a new congregation. A house was secured in Stocks Street, behind St. Chad's church and there Elizabeth and her companions lived and worked. The life of Elizabeth and her female companions was strict and they laboured for much of the day in prayer and working for the local poor. The life proved so strict that eventually all of Elizabeth's companions left her. New recruits came and a rule of life was drawn up by Father Gaudentius. The company was called the 'Institute of the Holy Family'. Elizabeth and the sisters received a religious habitReligious habit
A religious habit is a distinctive set of garments worn by members of a religious order. Traditionally some plain garb recognisable as a religious habit has also been worn by those leading the religious eremitic and anachoritic life, although in their case without conformity to a particular uniform...
at the hands of Father Croskell, parish priest of St. Chad's, on the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lady
Blessed Virgin Mary (Roman Catholic)
Roman Catholic veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary is based on Holy Scripture: In the fullness of time, God sent his son, born of a virgin. The mystery of the incarnation of the Son of God through Mary thus signifies her honour as Mother of God...
, November 21, 1852. A plaque in the Lady Chapel
Lady chapel
A Lady chapel, also called Mary chapel or Marian chapel, is a traditional English term for a chapel inside a cathedral, basilica, or large church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary...
of St. Chad's records this event. At her clothing Elizabeth Prout received her new religious name, by which she would ever be known hereafter, Mother Mary Joseph of Jesus.
The next two years saw the sisters working unceasingly, to such an extent that their health was neglected and many of the sisters fell ill, being too poor to afford the services of a doctor; Mother Mary Joseph was called upon to nurse the sisters herself. Encouragement was ever present however, in the form of many benefactors and friends, not least amongst them Father Ignatius Spencer
Ignatius Spencer
Father Ignatius of St Paul , born as Hon. George Spencer, was a son of the 2nd Earl Spencer. He converted from Anglicanism to the Roman Catholic Church and entered the Passionist Order in 1841 and spent his life working for the conversion of England to the Catholic faith.-Birth and Education:George...
, son of Earl Spencer
Earl Spencer
Earl Spencer is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain that was created on 1 November 1765, along with the title Viscount Althorp, of Althorp in the County of Northamptonshire, for John Spencer, 1st Viscount Spencer, a great-grandson of the 1st Duke of Marlborough...
and convert to the Catholic faith. He too had become a Passionist and joined Father Dominic in his work in England. When Father Gaudentius was transferred to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by his superiors Father Ignatius took the place of the spiritual guide of Mother Mary Joseph and her Institute. By this time a larger home had been found for the community in Levenshulme
Levenshulme
Levenshulme is an urban area of the City of Manchester, in North West England. It borders Longsight, Gorton, Burnage, Heaton Chapel and Reddish, and is approximately halfway between Stockport and Manchester City Centre on the A6 road. The A6 bisects Levenshulme. The Manchester to London railway...
on the outskirts of Manchester.
Conflicts within the community had taken their toll on Mother Mary Joseph's work, particularly the finances of the Institute. She obtained permission from the bishop to go to Ireland to beg for alms for her Institute and there met with Father Ignatius. On her return from Ireland mother Mary Joseph found the situation even worse than when she had left. People were accusing the sisters of irregularity and so an ecclesiastical investigation began. The result of the investigation was extremely positive and revealed the deep poverty of the sisters and the sacrifices they had made in their hard work.
Passionist Sisters
Father Ignatius began to spend much more time with the sisters and as such the influence of Passionist spirituality began to grow within the community. Soon Mother Mary Joseph and Father Ignatius were working together on the Rule of the Institute to bring it into conformity with the Rule of the founder of the Passionists, St. Paul of the CrossPaul of the Cross
Paul of the Cross was an Italian mystic, and founder of the Passionists.-Biography:Saint Paul of the Cross, originally named Paolo Francesco Danei, was born on 3 January 1694, in the town of Ovada, Piedmont, between Turin and Genoa in the Duchy of Savoy in northern Italy.Paul, a son of a...
. Father Ignatius took the Rule to Rome for the Pope's approval, which he received. The Institute was thus formally erected as a religious congregation of the Catholic Church. On October 23, 1863 Mother Mary Joseph was elected mother General, but her health was failing and her was near total physical collapse. Mother Mary Joseph died on January 11, 1864, physically broken by her labours, but with the future of the congregation secure. She was dressed in her habit and buried at the Passionist Church of St. Anne's, in Sutton, St. Helens
St Helens, Merseyside
St Helens is a large town in Merseyside, England. It is the largest settlement and administrative centre of the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens with a population of just over 100,000, part of an urban area with a total population of 176,843 at the time of the 2001 Census...
near Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, where Dominic Barberi
Dominic Barberi
Blessed Dominic of the Mother of God, born Dominic Barberi was an Italian theologian and a member of the Passionist Congregation...
and Ignatius Spencer
Ignatius Spencer
Father Ignatius of St Paul , born as Hon. George Spencer, was a son of the 2nd Earl Spencer. He converted from Anglicanism to the Roman Catholic Church and entered the Passionist Order in 1841 and spent his life working for the conversion of England to the Catholic faith.-Birth and Education:George...
were also buried. Ten years after her death the sisters were given permission to wear the sign of the Passionists on their habit and their name was changed to the 'Sisters of the Cross and Passion' thus completing the work of Mother Mary Joseph and Father Ignatius.
Cause for Canonisation
At the end of the 20th century a renewed interest in the life and work of Mother Mary Joseph caused the cause for her canonisation to be opened. Her body was exhumed on June 20, 1973 and on July 30 reburied beside Father Ignatius and Blessed Dominic in the new shrine at Sutton. The next step in her Cause would be a declaration from Rome of her heroic virtues and thus mother Mary Joseph would be styled ‘Venerable’ as such she is now styled ‘Servant of God Mother Mary Joseph of Jesus’. Two reports by Catholic News ServiceCatholic News Service
Catholic News Service is an American news agency covering the Roman Catholic Church. CNS was established in 1920 and is a leading source of news for Catholic print and broadcast media throughout the world....
of allegedly miraculous cures, which would be needed to be proved in addition to her heroic status, are being investigated for future beatification and canonization. They involve a person with cancer and a person with severe brain damage due to a skull fracture.